PAR Controller
One Controller for Many Screens
Bring your guest experiences to life with the PAR™ Controller. This single KDS controller powers all kitchen display screens, digital menu boards, kiosks, and more, providing the visibility needed to run a high-performing kitchen.
Trusted By Industry Leaders
More than 25,000 restaurant locations run on PAR.
- PAR Ecosystem
Bring it all together to perform even better.
- Core Benefits
Performance and Connectivity
From a slim but powerful form factor, the PAR QSR controller streamlines communications, reduces errors and keeps your teams in sync.
Made to take the heat
Built to withstand the high room temps, grease, and spills common in restaurant environments.
Small but powerful
Combines an ultra-fast processor with a compact design and flexible mounting options.
Ergonomic fit
easily adjusts to all head sizes for comfort.
Applications
Simplify your tech stack with one KDS controller running multiple displays.
Kitchen Display Screen
Keep orders moving quickly and accurately by using the PAR KDS system controller as your kitchen display controller.
Digital Menu Boards and Signage
Capture attention and drive higher order averages with vibrant digital menu boards, pre-sell boards, and promotional signage.
Order-Ready Display
The PAR restaurant device controller powers digital order-ready displays, supporting greater accuracy and transparency.
Self-Service Kiosks
The PAR QSR controller powers scalable self-service ordering experiences that reduce wait times, increase sales, and improve satisfaction.
Back-of-House Engagement
The PAR QSR controller enables easy delivery of shift information, KPIs, and other operational content to back-office display screens.
Visibility is Key
To learn more about how a clear line of sight is critical to profitable, high-performance kitchens, explore our Speed of Service Guide and KDS controller data sheet.
- Testimonials
Boosting Kitchen Efficiency
The top brands trust the PAR restaurant device controller to sync up their teams and enhance kitchen operations. Here’s what some of our customers have to say.
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- Industries
Find the Right Fit for your Business Model
PAR elevates efficiency and customer experiences across a variety of restaurant, retail, hospitality, and entertainment venues.
QSR
Fast Casual
Table Service
Hospitality
Convenience and Fuel Service
Drive meaningful customer experiences through loyalty programs guaranteed to perform.
Cinemas
Unify digital, box-office and concessions operations for enhanced moviegoing experiences.
Theme Parks
From ticketing and concessions to gift shops, PAR makes payment fast and flexible.
Casinos
Casinos
Unify restaurant gaming, and casino management operations for better staff and guest experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
PAR Controllers Frequently Asked Questions
What is a QSR controller?
A QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) controller is the backbone of your restaurant’s digital display applications, ensuring everything from kitchen display screens to digital menu boards run smoothly. It’s built for the fast-paced, high-demand environment of quick service and fast-casual restaurants, where speed and reliability are non-negotiable. The PAR Controller takes this a step further with its compact design, durable build and the ability to power multiple display applications from a single device
What should I look for in a QSR controller?
A great QSR controller needs to be fast, reliable, and built for the realities of a restaurant environment.
Durability is key — it should be able to handle heat, spills, and grease without performance issues. It also needs multiple display outputs to support kitchen display systems, digital menu boards, kiosks, and order ready boards. Connectivity matters too, so having a KDS controller with USB, Ethernet, and serial ports ensures seamless integration with POS systems and peripherals. Finally, flexibility is a must — whether that’s mounting options to fit into tight spaces or software compatibility with Windows, Linux and Android to support various applications.
Like any restaurant technology, make sure to consider the quality of the component AND the quality of the partner. Choosing a kitchen display controller that is backed by a strong technology partner will ensure optimal solution fit, a smooth rollout, responsive day-to-day support and minimal downtime.
How is the PAR Controller different from a standard PC?
Unlike a traditional PC, the PAR Controller is designed specifically for restaurant environments. It can handle heat, spills and grease while offering seamless connectivity for multiple screens, POS integrations and order management systems. Our KDS controller is built to be compact and reliable, with flexible mounting options that allow it to fit into tight spaces without compromising performance.
How many displays can the PAR Controller support?
The PAR Controller can power up to three displays simultaneously using HDMI and USB Type-C ports. Whether you’re running kitchen display screens, digital menu boards or self-service kiosks, this controller ensures smooth visuals and seamless operation across multiple screens.
Is the PAR Controller only for kitchen display screens?
Not at all! While it excels as a KDS controller, the PAR Controller is built for much more. It can serve as a digital signage controller that drives digital menu boards, order ready boards, and self-service kiosks. It’s also great for back-of-house applications, such as displaying shift schedules, operational dashboards or key performance metrics. Whatever digital display you need to run, the PAR Controller is up for the task.
How do I know how many QSR controllers my restaurant needs?
The number of quick service controllers you’ll need depends on your restaurant’s layout and digital display setup. A single KDS controller can often support multiple screens, but if you’re running several independent displays across your restaurant — such as multiple self-service kiosks, digital signage and kitchen displays — you may need more than one. If you’re unsure, our team can help assess your setup and recommend the right configuration.
What software is the PAR Controller compatible with?
The PAR Controller is designed to work seamlessly with a range of operating systems, including Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, Linux and Android 13. This flexibility ensures compatibility with most restaurant management systems, kitchen display software, digital signage platforms and self-service kiosk applications. If you have a specific software solution in mind, we can help determine whether the PAR Controller is the right fit.
Does the PAR Controller require special installation?
Installation is simple and flexible. Thanks to its compact form factor and VESA mount compatibility (100×100 mm), it can be mounted almost anywhere — behind menu boards, under counters or within kiosk enclosures. Just connect power, network, and display outputs and it’s ready to go. If you need assistance, our support team can guide you through setup.
What connectivity and power options does the PAR Controller offer?
The PAR Controller comes well-equipped with a variety of ports and power options to ensure seamless integration into your restaurant’s technology stack. It features USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, HDMI and USB Type-C for display connectivity, as well as an RJ45 LAN port for networking. It’s powered by a 65W adapter (DC 19V), ensuring stable and efficient performance.
How durable is the PAR Controller?
Designed for the demanding restaurant environment, the PAR Controller is built to withstand heat, spills and grease while maintaining reliable performance. While it’s not meant for extreme temperature conditions, it operates comfortably within a temperature range of 0°C to 35°C (32°F to 95°F), making it ideal for front- and back-of-house installations.
